A Web Map Service (WMS) is a standard protocol for serving (over the Internet) georeferenced map images which a map server generates using data from a GIS database. The Open Geospatial Consortium developed the specification and first published it in 1999.
The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) became involved in developing standards for web mapping after a paper was published in 1997 by Allan Doyle, outlining a "WWW Mapping Framework". The OGC established a task force to come up with a strategy, and organized the "Web Mapping Testbed" initiative, inviting pilot web mapping projects that built upon ideas by Doyle and the OGC task force. Results of the pilot projects were demonstrated in September 1999, and a second phase of pilot projects ended in April 2000.
The Open Geospatial Consortium released WMS version 1.0.0 in April 2000, followed by version 1.1.0 in June 2001, and version 1.1.1 in January 2002. The OGC released WMS version 1.3.0 in January 2004.
WMS specifies a number of different request types, two of which are required by any WMS server:
GetCapabilities - returns parameters about the WMS (such as map image format and WMS version compatibility) and the available layers (map bounding box, coordinate reference systems, URI of the data and whether the layer is mostly opaque or not)GetMap - returns a map image. Parameters include: width and height of the map, coordinate reference system, rendering style, image formatRequest types that WMS providers may optionally support include:
GetFeatureInfo - if a layer is marked as 'queryable' then you can request data about a coordinate of the map image.DescribeLayer - returns the feature types of the specified layer or layers, which can be further described using WFS or WCS requests. This request is dependent on the SLD Profile of WMS.GetLegendGraphic - return an image of the map's legend image, giving a visual guide to map elements.A WMS server usually serves the map in a bitmap format, e.g. PNG, GIF or JPEG. In addition, vector graphics can be included: such as points, lines, curves and text, expressed in SVG or WebCGM format.
Open source software that provide web map services capability include:
GeoServerdeegreeMapServerMapGuide Open SourceWorld Wind ServerQGIS ServerGeoWebCacheProprietary server software that allow providing web map services include:
PIXIA Corp'sHiPER LOOKSinergise GiselleObjectFX Web Mapping ToolsArcGIS ServerArcIMSVT MAK's VR-TheWorldEnvinsa from Pitney Bowes Business InsightsGeoWebPublisher from Bentley SystemsGeognoSIS from CadcorpGeoMediaOracle MapViewerLizardTech's Express ServerSIAS (Smallworld Internet Application Server) from GE EnergyAutodesk's Infrastructure Map ServerERDAS, Inc's APOLLO Suite of productsManifold SystemMapLink Pro WMS Server from EnvitiaMiraMon ServerFiberWatch for Remote Fiber Monitoring from NTest IncCubeWerx SuitePetrosysJMap from K2 GeospatialStatMap's Stellar Suite products (inc. Earthlight, Aurora and Comet)Luciad's LuciadLightspeed and LuciadFusion productsOpen source standalone (client side) software that allow viewing web map services include:
GeozillaQGIS BrowserosgEarthMarbleProprietary standalone (client side) software that allow viewing web map services include:
Google EarthCompeGPS LandGeocortex EssentialsPYXIS WorldView StudioEsri ArcGIS & ArcGIS ExplorerGeoweb3d Desktop and Geoweb3d SDKTIBCO SpotfireGlobal MapperKongsberg Gallium Ltd. InterVIEW / InterMAPhicsCarbon Project GaiaPetrosysLuciad's LuciadLightspeed, LuciadRIA and LuciadMobile productsWMS Viewer for Android and OnlineWMS is a widely supported format for maps and GIS data accessed via the Internet and loaded into client side GIS software. Major commercial GIS and mapping software that support WMS include:
AnyChartAutodesk's Map 3D and Civil 3D productsBentley Systems's GIS productsCadcorp SIS product suiteD3.jsESRI's ArcGIS productsGeoMediaGlobal MapperKineticaManifold SystemMapInfo ProfessionalMaptitude Mapping SoftwareMATLAB and Mapping ToolboxNetwinPYXIS WorldViewStatMap's Stellar Suite productsTableauTIBCO SpotfireVisual CrossingOpen source software that supports WMS include:
QGISuDigOpenJUMPMapGuide Open SourceNASA World WindGRASS GISJOSMgvSIGOpenLayersGE Energy's SIAS, an Ajax library, supports WMS for integrating WMS maps into web pages, as does Mapbender